Trump and Zelensky at the White House press meeting on Friday. Photo: AP screengrab Trump and Zelensky at the White House press meeting on Friday. Photo: AP screengrab

The much awaited meeting at the Oval Office between President Donald Trump and visiting Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, turned into a full blown slanging match and ended with the visitor being asked to leave. After nearly 50-minutes of the spectacle, that Trump later said would be great television, reporters got a ringside view of a once in a life time experience. Never before have dignitaries squabbled publicly, all this is reserved for discussions behind closed doors. Vice President JD Vance is being blamed by many US commentators for starting the furious exchange.

"I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform after the disastrous meeting on Friday.

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"I don’t want advantage, I want peace. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for peace," he announced.

Take a look at the statement shared by HBO here.

Also Read | After Trump-Zelenskyy Meet Turns Into Heated Argument, White House Cancels Joint Press Conference

Trump and Vance humiliated Zelenskyy and appeared to have a personal animus towards him for his excellent rapport with former president Joe Biden. Trump said at one point “You have to be more thankful. You don’t have the cards. With us, you have the cards. But without us, you don’t have any cards.” Again "Your country is in big trouble," The US president continued, adding, "You are not winning this." “If you could get a ceasefire right now, I’d tell you to take it so the bullets stop flying,7jogos cassino” Trump said.

"You are not in a good position"; "you are gambling with World War 3"; "Our $ 350-billion military equipment helped you to fight. Otherwise you would not have lasted for two weeks", Trump said at various points."You are not grateful for American help,’’ Vance interjected. "You should be grateful that the President is trying to help you,’’ said the V-P, adding "You are taking conscripts to the war front.’’ Vance reminded Zelenskyy that he had travelled to a Scranton army ammunition plant in Pennsylvania to help the "opposition’’ last September, ahead of the elections. Fox News had reported at that time that the Ukrainian leader was specially flown in by the US administration.

Zelenskyy repeatedly emphasised the need for security guarantees before a ceasefire and peace deal with Russia. Trump cut him short and told him to "be grateful" for what the US had already done to help Ukraine.

Mineral Deal

The much-awaited minerals deal that was to be signed to get America’s security guarantee for Ukraine was off the table. Trump had been eyeing Ukraine’s critical minerals for a long time. He had talked about it incessantly in the last two weeks. Trump believes that American companies working in Ukraine would deter future Russian adventurism, and act as a protective shield. At one point in the exchange Trump simply threatened "You either make a deal or we are out.’’

Trump is very focused on critical minerals. He has been since 2017. On his second term, Trump has spoken of acquiring Greenland for his large deposits of minerals. His talk about annexing Canada also had to get his hands on that country’s mineral wealth.

Also Read | Trump And Zelenskyy To Sign Rare Earth Minerals Agreement, Form Investment Fund: Report

MAGA Support For Trump’s Action

While Europe and Democrats as well as the liberal press blasted Trump and Vance, the President’s MAGA base was all praise.

Secretary of state Marco Rubio posted on social media: “Thank you @POTUS for standing up for America in a way that no President has ever had the courage to do before. Thank you for putting America First. America is with you!”

"Finally we have a President who will speak the TRUTH and stand up against Washington’s endless wars. American taxpayers have been funding this war, it’s time to stop the killing and stop risking World War 3!" GOP Sen. Bernie Moreno posted on X after the tense exchange that ultimately resulted in a cancelled press conference on Friday. "Wow!" Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk posted on X. "President Trump and JD Vance just told Zelenskyy exactly what millions of Americans have wanted to tell him, right to his face. Someone needed to say it."

What Next For Zelenskyy And Ukraine

For Zelenskyy, the West’s poster boy since Russia invaded Ukraine the going has been tough since Trump won the presidency. Zelenskyy had so far got tremendous support and aid from the US and its European allies. With today’s breakdown of talks the road ahead appears much more difficult. He will have to rely more and more on his European partners for support. Zelenskyy will be flying to London for a meeting arranged by Prime Minister Starmer with European leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron. Europe will have to gear up to take more responsibility for Ukraine. Starmer had already said he is willing to put boots on the ground to provide security guarantee if needed.

Despite pessimism all around at the moment, neither Ukraine nor the US can afford to let allow relations to get worse. After a cooling off period both sides will get together to discuss the mineral deal and how to bring the war to an end.

However it cannot be a change of president in Ukraine as suggested by Republican Senator Linsey Graham. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Graham said it was a ``complete, utter disaster.’’

“What I saw in the Oval office was disrespectful and I don’t know if we can ever do business with Zelenskyy again.”30win